Maggie Kang credits Bong Joon-ho as biggest influence behind ‘K-pop Demon Hunters’

Director Maggie Kang, who helmed Netflix’s global hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” said her biggest cinematic influence came from Korean auteur Bong Joon-ho. “Director Bong has had the greatest impact on me as a filmmaker,” Kang said during an open talk event for the sing-along screening of “KPop Demon Hunters” at the Busan International Film Festival on Sept. 21. “When I watched his film ‘The Host,’ I realized for the first time that a single film could mix so many tones and genres. That discovery shaped how I approached my own movie, which blends musical, romance, comedy, horror and action.” Kang, who also cited Japanese master Akira Kurosawa as a favorite, recalled watching “The Host” with her father. “My dad was a bigger cinephile than I was. Seeing it together on Christmas made it even more memorable. Among Bong’s films, I like ‘Memories of Murder’ the most,” she said. Kang explained why she infused her directorial debut with Korean culture. “After working in Hollywood for more than a decade, one of my goals was to contribute to a film that reflected KWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times